Billings2 looks like a great product everything I could need is in one package. I do have a problem though. For the most part I work time and materials. (I'm a contractor) I would love to have my invoice split my expenses from my labor and subtotal them. I am having trouble trying to call out the expense slips from the others in the editor. Maybe someone has already done this and can share. Is better documentation about the editor in the works. The daylight movies gave me just the basics to try but that's it. Thanks.

Hi Jason

I think we can do what you're looking for, but I'm not clear on exactly how you'd like them to show on an invoice. Can you describe what you're looking for in more detail, or even post a link to an example?

Thanks,

Thanks Adam, this is an example of my invoices. Very dry and boring. The Labor and Materials are separated. I have modified the Coast Invoice template and would like to work the old into the great new look. Thanks

Hi Jason

This should basically be doable. Can you describe how you would like the Coast template modified to suit your needs? For instance, the Coast template has a large table where all the slips go. Would you like to see that table split into two? Or would you like your expenses simply to be grouped at the bottom, with no header? And so on...

If you use a graphics editing program, it would be excellent if you could mock up what you're looking for (right in a sample Coast PDF invoice). Our process--and the best practice--for designing estimates, invoices, and reports, includes very specifically defining exactly, to a T, how the final product should look. It's difficult to start modifying or creating templates before knowing precisely, absolutely how it will end up.

Thx,
adam

Thanks Adam, Here is basically what I am looking for in a modified Coast template. I guess I would like two tables, but could the material table not show up if there are no materials to invoice? I just need the guts put together and I can change text and colors etc. Thanks for your help.

BTW is/will there be better documentation for the template editing?

Looks good so far; would you ever need to have taxes handled, automatically the way Billings does now? Or is what is shown on that example the "maximum" flexibility that you'd require?

I live in and do the majority of my work in Oregon where there is no tax, but for maximum flexibility and future work in Washington state(they have sales tax) I would like to keep taxes in just hidden unless needed. Thanks.

OK, thanks for the clarification. I will take a look at this and see if there's a good solution (I believe so).

Adam, are you still working on this? Thanks.

I too would be interested in such a functionality. In my template/time slip I have identified expenses under the "name" field as "expense" or else as the attorney initials. Two time slip templates - one for labor, one for expenses.

Logically I would like to split off any "name" that equals "expense" and have it show below the attorney entries such as the example invoice posted above, then have separate subtotals for "labor" and "expenses" and then a grand total.

In other words, "If {slipname} = 'expense' then add {rate/price} to {expense subtotal} and {invoice total due} else add {rate/price} to {labor subtotal} and {invoice total due}"

Similarly, "If {slipname} = 'expense' then move {the entire entry} to {special section for expenses}" or at least have them appear after labor.


Make sense? Thanks.

Mike

Okay, so I figure I needed a script to do this. tried writing a simple one last night. problem is I cannot determine what the "objects" are in order to manipulate them. In other words, how would I tell the script to get the value of {slip name}? and the other objects such as subtotals etc.?


Anyone?

From what I'm seeing, I think what we need to do here is use the 'group by' feature.

You can group by 'type' or 'category' for example.

We would have enclose the line items 'table' in a 'group by'. The only challenge I see there is the stretching of the tables to fill the void.

I'll have to think about this a little.
Right now, we are preparing for Macworld and the final release. Mental bandwidth is very limited unfortunately.

Although my situation is slightly different, I also would like to be able to separate timed slips from expenses. In a perfect world, I'd like those two sections to have different columns (Item, Time, Rate and Subtotal for timed slips, just Item and Subtotal for expenses), but still be able to have their subtotals added together. Heck, as long as we're in that perfect world, I'd like to be able to have subgroups for my expenses (mileage, filing fees, discovery costs, etc.) with their own subtotals, then get another subtotal for all expenses, and then a total for expenses plus time.

quote:

Originally posted by AJ:
Right now, we are preparing for Macworld and the final release. Mental bandwidth is very limited unfortunately.

Good luck at MacWorld!

AJ,

I was wondering if you've had a chance to look at this issue. How was the iPhone in person? too bad they chose cingular.

I can email you my template that I've created if that helps. I tried fiddling with "group by" over the holidays but without a manual I'm pretty much lost.

Thanks,

Mike

I'm just going to put this out there.

Here is a link to my invoice template, I hope it downloads:

-disables, see below-

Unless I have to start from scratch, can anyone offer some advice on the topic? I looked through the new report engine guide but, absent something a little more concrete in terms of "do this" or "do that" or "here's what this does" I'm kind of at the end of my skill set. Long times since that COBOL class...

More info: on my slips I've created two categories: labor, and expense. All I'm looking for are two subtotals at the bottom of the generated invoice: labor subtotal, and expense subtotal, followed by the grand total.

I'm trying to post a sample generated invoice (as it now goes in the mail) to the website but am having some trouble

Okay, see if this works: -disabled see below-

mike

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Michael P,